Sheet edging machine



Oct. 10, 1939. KlRKMAN 2,175,296

SHEET EDGING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 d ttorneg Oct. 10, 1939. P.- J. KIRKMAN 2,175,296

SHEET EDGING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnvmtor PETE? d KIRK/WAN.

(Zttomeg' Oct. 10, 1939. P J. KIRKMAN 2,175,296

SHEET EDGING MACHINE Filed June 25, 1958 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ZSnventor Bu PETE? cl. KHFKMHN.

Gttomeg iii) Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHEET EDGING MACHINE corporation of Ohio Application June 25, 1938, Serial No. 215,714

15'Claims.

The present invention relates to edging machines in general and more particularly to an improved machine for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass and the like.

This invention is of particular utility when incorporated in the Weber type of machine employed in the edging of glass sheets or plates, although it is of course not restricted thereto and may be used by itself as an independent machine or associated with other types of edging machines. The Weber type machine, however, will be herein disclosed by way of example to illustrate one application of the present invention. Such machine comprises briefly a series of rotatable grinding elements in the form of grooved wheels, and means for passing the sheets or plates to be ground over and in engagement therewith. The sheets or plates are supported on edge in a vertical position and the bottom edges thereof are adapted to be ground as they are carried forwardly over the grinding wheels.

It is an aim of this invention to render the Weber type edging machine equally effective for grinding the upper edges of the glass sheets or plates as they are carried forwardly by the addition of relatively simple inexpensive apparatus which is adaptable for the grinding not only of straight edges but also curved edges or a combination of both.

An important object of the invention is the provision of one or more so-called overhead grinding units mounted between adjacent grinding wheels which operate on the bottom edges of the glass sheets, each overhead grinding unit including a rotatable grinding wheel mounted so that it will freely follow the contour of the upper edges of the glass sheets regardless of the shape thereof.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of an overhead grinding unit embodying means for counterbalancing the grinding wheel whereby to effectively regulate the degree of pressure exerted thereby upon the upper edges of the sheets of glass passing therebeneath,

' together with means for initially adjusting the height of the grinding wheel in accordance with the width or height of the glass sheets to be ground.

Another important object of the invention is the provision of novel guard means for preventing the grinding wheel, upon leaving the upper edges of the glass sheets, from falling downwardly and striking the rounded corners or vertical side edges of the sheets and thereby chipping or otherwise marring the same, said guard means engaging the upper edges of the glass sheets as said sheets pass from beneath the grinding wheel and being adjustable relative to said wheel .to take care of glass sheets of different shapes and sizes.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the course of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of grinding apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof partially in sec tion;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the grinding apparatus taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the grinding apparatus.

There has been illustrated in the drawings and will therefore be described herein only those portions of a Weber type edging machine which are necessary to a complete understanding of the present invention, and for a more specific disclosure of this type of machine attention is called to the patent to Karl Weber, 1,680,920, issued August 14, 1928.

Briefly, the Weber edging machine is constructed of a plurality of unit sections A, B, etc. removably secured together end to end so that any desired number of sec-tions may be used depending uponthe number of grinding wheels the work requires. Each unit section comprises a supporting framework I upon which is rotatably mounted a grinding wheel ll driven in any desired manner about a horizontal axis. The grinding wheel II is preferably provided with a plurality of grooves in the periphery thereof and the lower portion of said wheel operates within a receptacle I2 adapted to contain a suitable abrasive material.

Carried by the supporting framework II] is a horizontal, substantially U-shaped channel member 13, and the upper portion of the grinding wheel ll projects upwardly through a slot in the bottom thereof. Mounted within the channel member 13 at one side of the grinding wheel are a plurality of horizontally aligned conveyor rollers [4, while a plurality of similar horizontally aligned conveyor rollers I are mounted within said channel member at the opposite side of said grinding wheel. The conveyor rollers I 4 and I5 are also preferably provided with a plurality of grooves aligning with the grooves in grinding wheel H and the said rollers constitute a horizontal runway for conveying the glass sheets 16, supported on edge in a vertical position to and from said gn'nding wheel as well as from one wheel to the next wheel. The glass sheets i6 can be moved forwardly over successive grinding wheels II by means of a pusher block ll supported upon the channel member [3 and engaging the rear edges of the glass sheets, said pusher block being suitably connected to a traveling sprocket chain i8 driven in any desired manner. As the glass sheets are moved forwardly over the grinding wheels I l, the bottom straight edges is thereof are adapted to be properly ground.

To assist in maintaining the glass sheets iii in a vertical position during grinding and also for holding the bottom edges l9 of said sheets in proper engagement with the grinding wheels ll, there may be associated with each unit section A, B, etc., a pressure roll 23 which is adapted to ride along upon the upper edges 2| of the glass sheets as the said sheets are carried over the grinding wheels. The pressure roll 20 is also preferably grooved and is freely rotatable upon a pin 22 carried at the outer end of an arm 23 which is pivotally mounted at its inner end upon a pin 24 carried by a block 25. The block 25 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a slot 23 formed in a vertical supporting standard 21 which may be carried by the supporting framework 10. The block 25 is carried at one end of a cable 28 passing upwardly over a pulley 29 at the upper end of standard 21 and having attached to its opposite end a suitable counterweight, not shown. Secured to the inner end of arm 23 is a second arm 30 which cooperates with arm 23 to form a bell-crank lever and carried upon arm 30 is a weight 3| which serves to urge the pressure roll 23 downwardly into engagement with the upper edges of the glass sheets. The weight 3| is adjustable along arm 30 so as to vary the pressure of the roll 20 upon the glass sheets. The particular construction and arrangement of the pressure roll 20 forms in itself no part of the present invention and is more fully disclosed and claimed in the patent to H. O. Kranich, No. 1,937,388, issued November 28, 1933. As set forth above, the aim of this invention is the provision of a machine of this character also effective for grinding the upper edges 2| of the glass sheets l6 whether they be straight or curved. To this end, there is mounted above the path of travel of the glass sheets l6 and preferably between one or more adjacent pairs of grinding wheels ll an overhead grinding unit designated in its entirety by the numeral 32 and including the rotatable grinding wheel 33 adapted to engage the upper edges 2| of the glass sheets as the said sheets are passed therebeneath. More specifically, there is arranged opposite the grinding wheel II a vertical frame 34 provided at one side thereof with the vertical undercut channels or guideways 35 and 36 within which are slidably received the tongues 31 formed on a slide plate 38. The slide plate 38 is provided at its opposite sides with bearing portions 39 and 40, and extending between said bearing portions is a transverse shaft 4| journaled at its opposite ends in ball bearing assemblies 42 and 43 received within said bearing portions 39 and 40.

The numeral 44 designates a substantially horizontal supporting arm provided at its inner end with a bearing 45 through which the shaft 4! extends and which provides a pivotal mounting for the said arm. The supporting arm 44 is formed at its opposite end with a transverse sleeve 46 and passing through said sleeve is a shaft 41 projecting beyond the said sleeve at the opposite ends thereof. The shaft 41 is journaled at each end of the sleeve 45 in a bearing 43. Mounted upon one end of the shaft 41 is the grinding wheel 33 and as will be seen in Fig. 3, the said wheel is preferably provided with a plurality of peripheral grooves 49 within which the upper edges of the glass sheets l6 are received.

Carried at the opposite end of the sleeve 46 is a casing 50 into which the corresponding end of shaft 4? projects and upon which is keyed a pulley 5i. Rigidly secured upon the supporting arm 44 is a motor 52 and the shaft 53 thereof extends through a bearing 54 in the side wall of casing 53 and carries at its outer end a pulley 55. Trained about the pulleys 5i and 55 is a belt 56 by means of which the shaft 41 and consequently the grinding wheel 33 is positively driven.

The slide plate 38 is carried at the lower end of a supporting bolt 5'! which passes upwardly through a plate 58 secured to the frame 34 and having threaded upon its upper end a nut 59. Upon rotation of the nut 59, the slide plate can be raised or lowered to properly adjust the pivotal mounting of the grinding wheel.

The sheets of glass I6 to be ground are carried forwardly beneath the grinding wheel 33, and it is of course necessary that the said wheel be initially disposed at the proper elevation depending upon the width or height of the said sheets. This is accomplished by the provision of a vertical hanger bolt 60 pivoted at its lower end upon a transverse pin 6i mounted in ears 62 formed'on sleeve 46, said bolt passing upwardly through a bracket 63 and having threaded upon its upper end nuts 64. The bracket 63 is carried by the frame 34 of the next overhead grinding unit. Interposed between the top of the bracket 63 and the nuts 64 is a cushioning or shock absorbing member 65 preferably of rubber, rubber composition, or the like which is provided to prevent excessive jarring of the grinding wheel and associated parts when said wheel moves downwardly after leaving the upper edges of the glass sheets.

The weight of the grinding wheel 33 and its associated parts is also suitably counterbalanced in a manner to regulate the degree of pressure exerted by the grinding wheel upon the upper edges of the glass sheets l6 passing therebeneath. To accomplish this, there is provided the counterweight means 63, said means comprising a substantially horizontal rod fil the inner end 68 of which is threaded within an opening formed in the boss. 39 at the inner end of supporting arm 44. Carried upon the rod 61 are a plurality of discs 73 and the number of these discs may be varied depending upon the amount of pressure it is desired that the grinding wheel exert upon the sheet edges.

The present invention also embodies means for preventing the grinding wheel 33 from dropping downwardly as the glass sheets pass from therebeneath and striking the corners or vertical side edges of the sheets which would be very apt to result in the chipping or marring thereof. Such means comprises a guard roller H which is mounted forwardly of the grinding wheel 33 and is adapted to engage the upper edges of the glass sheets after the wheel passes beyond said sheets to limit the downward movement of the latter. The means for mounting and adjusting the guard roller ll will now be described in detail.

portion 13 encircling the sleeve 46 and suitably secured thereto. Extending at right angles to the base portion 13 and arranged substantially parallel with the grinding wheel 33 is the side portion 14 formed at its outer end with a laterally and outwardly projecting flange 15 arranged transversely of the grinding wheel. Secured to the outer edge of the flange 15, by screws or the like 16, is a cover 11 which completesthe housing 12. The cover 11 is formed with a cup-shaped portion 18 disposed opposite the shaft 41, and

extending therefrom is the flange 19 through which the fastening screws 16 pass. Encircling the cup-shaped portion 18 is an outer member having an opening 8| through which the said cup-shaped portion projects, said "outer member being provided with an inturned flange 82 disposed outwardly of and overlapping the flange The outer member 80 is adjustably secured to the flange 19 of cover 11 by set screws 83 which pass loosely through an arcuate slot 84 formed in said outer member. Thus, upon loosening of the screws 83, the said outermember 80 can be rotated upon the cupshapedportion 18 of cover 11 in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and then secured in desired position by simply tightening the screws 83. The cup-shaped portion 78 of cover 11 and also the outer edge of member 80 may be covered by a face plate 85 secured by screws 86. I

Carried by the flange 82 of outer member 80 is a bracket 87 secured thereto by screws or the like 88.; The bracket 81 is provided at its lower end with spaced ears 89 and mounted therein is a horizontal pin or shaft 9|] carrying the guard roller ll. Upon turning of the outer member 80 upon housing 12 in the manner above described,

the bracket 81 can be raised or lowered to adjustthe vertical position of the guard roller H with respect 'to the bottom of the grinding wheel 33 according to the shape and size of glass sheets being ground.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for feeding water or other desired liquid to the grinding wheel 33 to facilitate the grinding action as well as to carry away the waste. This means comprises a supply pipe 9| provided at its lower end with a nozzle 92, said nozzle being flared outwardly as best shown in Fig. 2, so as to feed the water or other liquid over the entire width of the grinding wheel. The

bracket 81 is hollow and the supply pipe 9| extends upwardly therethrough and is secured thereto by clamps or other suitable fastening means 93. Carried by the outer member 80 opposite the liquid supply means is a splash pan 94 which serves to prevent undue splashing and flying of the liquid during the grinding operation.

In the operation of the machine having the desired number of grinding wheels H and overhead grinding units 32, the glass sheets [8 are supported on edge in a vertical position and advanced through the machine by the pusher block ll, said sheets being supported and carried along by the conveyor rollers l4 and l5. As the sheets are passedsuccessively over and in engagement with the desired number of grinding wheels II, the bottom edges l9 thereof are adapted to be properly ground. The sheets will be held downwardly in engagement with each grinding wheel H by the respective pressure roll 20. As the 5 glass sheets l6 pass beyond the grinding wheel ll, they are carried beneath the grinding wheel 33 which engages the upper edges 2| thereof. Of course, the grinding wheel 33 has previously been adjusted to its initial vertical position and. likewise the guard roller H has been properly adjusted with respect to said wheel. As the glass sheets move beneath the grinding wheel 33, the upper edges thereof will be engaged and ground thereby, and due to the pivotal mounting of the 15 grinding wheel, the said wheel will be caused to freely follow the contour of the upper edges of the sheetsregardless of the contour thereof. This is true whether the sheet edges are curved or straight or a combination of both. By adjusting the counterweights 10, the degree of pressure exerted upon the glass sheets may be readily varied.

As the grinding wheel 33 moves upwardly or downwardly in following the contour of the upper edges 2| of the glass sheets, as the said sheets pass therebeneath, the guard roller II will be raised or lowered therewith as shown by the full and broken lines in Fig, l. As the glass sheets pass from beneath the grinding wheel, the guard roller ll is adapted'to engage the upper edges of the sheets, as shown in Fig. 5, and thus prevent the grinding wheel from dropping downwardly and striking the corners of the glass sheets or the vertical side edges thereof and marring the same- When the glass sheets pass beyond the guard roller H, the grinding wheel will of coursebe permitted to drop downwardly, but such downward movement will be limited by the hanger rod Siland the shock or jar incident to such downward movement will be taken up or absorbed 'by the cushion member 65.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred embodiment of the same,-

and that various changes in the shape, size and ,of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, and means for 60 mounting said last-named grinding means for free vertical movement so that it can freely follow the contour of the upper edge of said sheet.

2. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge'of the sheet as it moves forwardly, a grinding wheel positioned above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, means for mounting said last-named grinding wheel for free vertical movement so that it can .75

freely follow the contour of the upper edge of said sheet, and means for limiting the downward movement of said grinding wheel when the said sheet passes from therebeneath, said grinding wheels being horizontally offset relative to one another.

3. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, means mounted in a substantially fixed position beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge of the sheet as it moves forwardly, and means pivotally mounted above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof.

4. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted in a substantially fixed position beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge of the sheet as it moves forwardly, and a grinding wheel pivotally mounted above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, said grinding wheels being horizontally offset relative to one another.

5. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, means for pivotally mounting said grinding wheel to cause it to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of said sheet, and means engaging the sheet for limiting the downward movement of the grinding wheel when the said sheet passes from beneath said wheel.

6. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet onedge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, means for pivotally mounting said grinding wheel to cause it to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of said sheet, means engaging the sheet for limiting the downward movement of the grinding wheel when the said sheet passes from beneath said wheel, and means for adjusting said last-mentioned means vertically relative to the said grinding wheel.

'7. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm upon which said grinding wheel is rotatably mounted, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm to cause the said grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, and means carried by said supporting arm and engaging the upper edge of the sheet to limit downward movement of the grinding wheel when the said sheet passes from beneath said wheel.

8. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm upon which said grinding wheel is rotatably mounted, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm to cause the said grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, means carried by said supporting arm and engaging the upper edge of the sheet to limit downward movement of the grinding wheel when the said sheet passes from. beneath said wheel, and means for adjusting said last-mentioned means vertically relative to the said grinding wheel.

9. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm rotatably carrying said grinding wheel at its outer end, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm at its inner end to cause the grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, a bracket carried at the outer end of said supporting arm, and a guard roller carried by said bracket and adapted to engage the upper edge of the sheet when the said sheet passes from. beneath the grinding wheel to limit the downward movement of said grinding wheel.

10. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm rotatably carrying said grinding wheel at its outer end, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm at its inner end to cause the grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, a bracket carried at the outer end of said supporting arm, a guard roller carried by said bracket and adapted to engage the upper edge of the sheet when the said sheet passes from beneath the grinding wheel to limit the downward movement of said grinding wheel, and means for adjusting said guard roller vertically relative to the said grinding wheel.

11. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm rotatably carrying said grinding wheel at its outer end, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm at its inner end to cause the grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, a housing carried by said supporting arm and substantially enclosing the grinding wheel except for the lower portion thereof, a member carried by said housing, a guard roller carried by said member and adapted to engage the upper edge of the sheet when the said sheet passes from, beneath the grinding wheel to limit the downward movement of said grinding wheel, and means for 75 adjusting said member upon said housing to raise or lower said guard roller relative to said grinding wheel.

12. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, a grinding wheel mounted above the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the upper edge thereof as it moves forwardly therebeneath, a supporting arm rotatably carrying said grinding wheel at its outer end, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arm at its inner end to cause the grinding wheel to freely follow the contour of the upper edge of the sheet, a housing carried by said supporting arm and substantially enclosing the grinding wheel except for the lower portion thereof, an outer member carried by said housing, a guard roller carried by said outer member and adapted to engage the upper edge of the sheet when the said sheet passes from beneath the grinding wheel to limit the downward movement of said grinding wheel, said outer member being provided with an arcuate slot, and fastening means passing through said slot and secured to said housing so that upon loosening of said fastening means, the said outer member can be turned relative to said housing to raise or lower said guard roller relative to said grinding wheel.

13. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, means mounted in a substantially fixed position beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge of the sheet as it moves forwardly, means pivotally mounted above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, and means for limiting the downward movement of said pivotally mounted grinding means when the said sheet passes from therebeneath.

14. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, means mounted in a substantially fixed position beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge of the sheet as it moves forwardly, means pivotally mounted above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, and means for counterbalancing said pivotally mounted grinding means to regulate the degree of pressure exerted thereby upon the upper edge of the said sheet.

15. In apparatus for grinding the edges of sheets or plates of glass or the like, means for supporting the sheet on edge in a vertical position and for carrying the same forwardly in a generally horizontal direction, means mounted in a substantially fixed position beneath the path of travel of the sheet for grinding the bottom edge of the sheet as it moves forwardly, means pivotally mounted above the path of travel of said sheet for grinding the upper edge of said sheet during the travel thereof, means for limiting the downward movement of said pivotally mounted guiding means when said sheet passes from therebeneath, and means for counterbalancing the said pivotally mounted grinding means to regulate the degree of pressure exerted thereby upon the upper edge of the said sheet.

PETER J. IQRKMAN. 

